Stabilizers for vinyl polymers



Patented Feb. 10, 1948 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFlCE 7 2,435,769 STABILIZERS FOR VINYL POLYMERS La Verne E. Cheyney and Carl R. Parks, Akron,

Ohio, assignors io Wingfoot Corporation,

Akron, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware No Drawing. Application November 25, 1942,

Serial No. 466.916

contact with iron or a salt thereof, such as the oxide, chloride, acetate, etc. I

The class of polymeric materials to which this invention relates includes soluble polymers of vinyl chloride and copolymers of vinyl chloride with other poly'merizable materials. For instance, the stabilizer of this invention may be used to stabilize a solution'of poly inyl chloride 1 in ethylene dichloride or methyl ethyl ketone; a solution of vinyl chloride-acetate copolymer (Vinylite) in ethylene dichloride, acetone or methyl ethyl ketone; a solution of vinyl chloridevinylidene chloride copolymer (containing over 80' per cent of'vinyl chloride) in ethylene dichloride; a solution ofvlnyl-chloride-diethyl maleate (in any ratio from 5 to 95 per centoi either monomer) maybe stabilized according to this invention, such 'as copolymers with diethyl maleate, dimethyl chloromaleate, dicyclohexyl maleate, etc. Other solvents which may be used in preparlngvarious of the solutions depending upon solubility include chlorobenzene, cyclohexanone. methylene chloride, tetrahydroiurane, dioxane, etc.

The stability oi the polymers and copolymers varies from batch to batch. They are rendered less stable by the presence of air. Iron, either introduced as a contaminant in the solvent used or present in the material of which the containing vessel is made, makes the polymer: and copolymers less stable. Iron salts, such as the oxide, chloride, acetate, etc., likewise render the polymers and copolymers less stable. The staand copolymers in the presence of air or iron and its salts.

The discoloration takes place fairly rapidly in most instances, 1. e., within six to eight-hours. 0n continued heating the solutionbecomes progressively darker until it becomes black. In the 6 Claims. (Cl. 260-88) about .1 per cent up to 5 percent or over on the weight of the polymer. Less than .1 per cent may be used, such as. for examp'e, down to 0.05 per cent, although in general somewhat larger amounts, but preferably less than 1 per cent of the formamide, will be employed.

For example, in heating a 20 per cent solution of a soluble copolymer of parts of vinyl chloride "and 65 parts of vinylidine chloride in benzene above its decomposition temperature (which is about 50 C.). it was found that the addition of 0.5part of iormamide retarded decomposition and prevented discoloration.

What we claim is:

1. A color stable resin which comprises a poly-' mer of vinyl chloride having incorporated therein from 0.05 to 5 percent (based on the polymer) of formarn de. v

2. A color stable resin which comprises polyvinyl chloride having incorporated therein from 0.05 to 5 percent. (based on the polyvinyl chloride) of formamide.

3. A color stable resin which comprises a co-- polymer of vinyl chloride and a compcund oi the group consisting of vinylidene chloride, vinyl acetate, the diesters of maleic acid, the diesters bilizer of this invention stabilizes the polymers Number ol' tumaric acid and the diesters of monochloro maleic acid. said copolymer having incorporated therein from 0.05 to 5 percent (based on the copolymer) of tormamide.

4. A color stable resin which comprises a poly mer of vinyl chloride having incorporated therein from 0.1 to 1.0percent (based on the polymer) of formamide.

5. A color stable resin which comprises polyvinyl chloride having incorporated therein from 0.1 to 1.0 percent (based on the polyvinyl chloride) of formamide,

6. A color stable resin which comprises a copolymer oi vinyl chloride and a compound oi the group consisting of vinylidene chloride. vinyl acetate, the dlesters of maleic acid, the diesters of fumarlc acid and the diesters of monochloro maleic acid. said copoiymer having incorporated therein from 0.1 to 1.0 percent (based on the copolymer) of formamide.

. LA VERNE E. CHEYNEY.

CARL R. PARKS.

Resonances orran The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 2,103,581 7 Gray Dec. 28. 1937 

